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N.PE\'ERS. PHOTOUYNOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED FFICE n. w. saneren, or MANNsvrnLmNnw YORK.

||v|nuovi-zwnarrr rN MErALLro CAN-BOTTQMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 98,526, dated January 4, 1870;

To all 'whom it may concern y Be it known that I, H. W. SHEPARD, of Mannsville, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Gan-Bottoms; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and io the letters of reference marked thereon, making part of this specification, in which is represented a horizontal vertical section ofthe can-bottom.

The present improvement in can-bottoms is the same in principle as that embraced in and covered by Letters Patent No. 79,907, issued to George A. Huggins, July 14., 1868, and reissued to me as sole assignee, September 28, 1869, and numbered 3,657.

Prior to the patent referred to, milk and `othercans, intended for like purposes, were made with bottoms of ordinary sheet metal, or, in other words, the same'quality of metal was used for the bottom as was employed in the construction of the cylinder or bodyusually thin sheet-tin. rllhe great objection to these cans was found in the fact that they failed to possess the requisite strength to withstand the weight they were to support when filled, and the rough handling to which they were necessarily to be subjected. The tendency of the ordinary can to tip over, and rock to and fro, was in consequence of the lightness of the can when empty, and the leakage was invariably caused by a breakage in the seamjoint. 4

In the canpatented to Huggins, and reissued to me September 28, l869, these difficulties are all remedied. The bottom of this can is made of cast metal, and of such weight as to cause the can' always to occupy a vertical position.

I have said my present improvement is similar in principle to the patent and reissue be fore referred to. Instead of recessing the bottom on its under side, so as to leave the center of its upper surface flat, surrounded by an annular rim, I stamp or otherwise so form the bottom asto leave it convexed, still having a recessed seat for the cylinder, and an outer hoop or liange to protect the lower surface of the same. This form enables the dairyman much more readily, to clean the can than when the cylinder is seated in' a deep, positive, and well-defined groove of small dimensions.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is the bottom, made in one piece, and of any suitable metal. I usually stamp them out of iron plates or sheets, known to the trade as No. 16, which possesses the requisite strength, and is of adequate weight to'retain the can in a vertical and steady posit-ionwwhen bein g transported in an empty condition.

The surface A1 ofthe bottom is of convexed form, as clearly shown in the drawing. The Y,

degree of this convexity may be slightly varied. The advantages of this convexed over any other form are twofold; first, the arch formation insures the desired degree of strength, without being unduly heavy or cumbersome; and again, it forms, at its point of union with the rim or flange A2 an open recess, a., which is lmost desirable, and in which is seated the vcylinder B. The riml or ange A2 vis vertical and perfectly straight, so that when the cylinder is inserted and secured, a can of uniform diameter throughout shall result. B is the cylinder, and is made in the usual inanner and of suitable metal. It is seated in the recesses a, and iirnily secured by rivets a a' and solder.

It will be observed, by reference to the draw ing, that the bottom rim and lower section 'b of the cylinder are entirely protected by the heavy metal bottom, the iiange A2 not only affording a convenient bearing-surface for the cylinder to be attached to, but also furnishing a strong, hard, metal hoop, so that when the Y -what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

As a new article of manufacture, the canbottom A, when 'constructed of one piece of metal, of sufficient strength and Weight for the purposes stated, having a convex surface, A1, and an annular rim, A2, when the same so meet as to leave an open recess for the cylinder to be seated in, the rim serving as an outer hoop for the cylinder, all combined and arranged as set forth.

In testimonyr whereof I have signed my neme to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

H. W. SHEPARD. Witnesscsz.

FREDK. KooNEs, EDWIN JAMES. 

